A very warm welcome to you youre watching r. T. International with me. Now a senior u. N. Official is accusing the United States of torturing whistleblower Chelsea Manning with her continued incarceration a letter from the world bodies a special rapporteur on torture to the u. S. Government from last november has now only just come to light the practice of coercive dipper of asian of liberty for civil contempt involves the intentional infliction of progressively severe mental and emotional suffering for the purposes of coercion and intimidation at the order of judicial authorities such deprivation of liberty does not constitute a circumscribed sanction for a specific offense but an open ended progressively severe measure of coercion fulfilling all the constitutive elements of torture or other cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Chelsea manning was a u. S. Military Intelligence Analyst but was arrested in 2010 for leaking classified information to wiki leaks she was convicted in 2013 to 35 years in prison president obama commuted her sentence just before leaving office but she was arrested again last year for declining to testify against wiki leaks publisher julian a sandwich Global Affairs analyst Patrick Kennedy since that is the u. N. Less there will be a boost for supporters of both mining and our songs while lawyer and activist kevin zeese explain to us how the law is being used to coerce money. In a grand jury which is a secret process before someone is indicted or you before a prosecutions occurring to determine whether someone should be prosecuted this is a power of the court to coerce someone into testifying now this law can allow a person in the United States to be held for the length of the grand jury in order to coerce them to testify before the grand jury and no longer serves the purpose it was intended to serve its now become a weapon of prosecutors it was initially designed to protect people who are being investigated the reason theyre kept secret because theyre trying to protect people being investigated before theyre indicted so you dont know that theyre being investigated but no longer serves our purpose and now serves the purpose of being a tool for prosecutors thats abused and i think Chelsea Manning is a victim of that abuse the report by Niels Meltzer does give an Additional Air of legitimacy to the case of manning to really back up all of the things that mannings supporters that isaan supporters have been saying now for over 6 months this is unjust that this is unfair theyre trying to create something new this is the whole point of coerced trying to coerce manning to come up with something that the d. O. J. Can use to make a real case against the sunday shows you how flimsy this is this is the degrade degradation of the Justice System in the United States and also in the u. K. As well in the case of the songes more like more resembles a Banana Republic style facade of a state judicial apparatus this is all part of a campaign to reframe to reframe julius aunt and wiki leaks as a from a journalist and a publication to being a cyber criminal in a hostile Foreign Intelligence Agency the entire case all the indictments against dishonor are based on that we frame in principle and they are trying to get Chelsea Manning to give them something a key to actually make that narrative work and shes not shes not volunteering anything and this is frustrating the u. S. System tremendously. Joining us on just one fairing much better hes also behind bars in a british prison thats off the pain drags out of the Ecuadorian Embassy ways that the previous 70 is his correspondence. Few buildings in the walls have come under as much scrutiny as this one here at quick door and. In those 4 walls for 7 long years possibly the most famous whistle blower who time to get a sandwich was hauled off until 8 court 2019 to 48 year old was sensationally dropped out by british authorities. That work for the wiki leaks founder this was a huge betrayal by the latin American Country that had sheltered him since 2012 aquittal said the relations had soured with the songe and his bad behavior triggered them opening the door to the police and revoking his asylum but its worth noting that just a bit acquittals bank account got an almighty boost with a 4200000000. 00 loan from the i. M. F. Where the u. S. Has huge Voting Rights a staunch is currently sitting in belmarsh prison in the countrys capital sucking up to meet sentence but jumping bail in 2012 but many are saying that what hes actually been handed is a death sentence because over 60 doctors wrote an open letter to the u. K. Government saying that he might die in prison britain for its part denies any wrongdoing the allegations mr son she was subjected to torture and founded and hold false the u. K. Is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that no one is ever bomb it but londons defense rings hollow in light of the reports by Many Organizations including the new web which claimed that as a Scientist Health continues to deteriorate authorities are simply standing idly by the blatant sustained arbitrariness shown by both the judiciary and the government in this case suggest an alarming departure from the u. K. s commitment to humor. Rights and the rule of law unless the u. K. Urgently changes course i believe yes the inhuman situation mr songes continued exposure to arbitrariness and abuse may soon end up costing him his life but as songes battle for his well being is not only fight on his hands ever since wiki leaks exposed gross misconduct by the Us Government washington has been pushing for his extradition on espionage charges giving him a helping hand the British Government despite International Outcry the u. K. Home secretary signed a us extradition request putting us on one step closer towards being charged for publishing classified information and conspiring to hack a top from a computer the 18 charges that washington has put forward could carry a maximum sentence of 175 years behind bars the reaction all over the wild people are crying foul they say that this is not a case about punishing a crime but of silencing a voice surely in their singled out for special treatment for one reason only heres the truth hes such an innocent important man is because he is a Freedom Fighter however much you dislike. His case is the most important for me give you freedom this is just. Miss rule of law and operation. Washingtons bid to get asylum stateside was also helped by not the european country sweden the scandinavian nation was investigating a Rape Allegation against the whistleblower and would have been within its rights to request his extradition to face trial since that case predated the u. S. Request london would have been obliged to send a songe to stockholm fast but sweden has now closed that investigation conveniently removing the. Final obstacle for the americans funny how it all wiped out a songes extradition hearing is set for factory 2020 but in light of these recent talents of the bands fears are growing that does little chance of play this close to sure i mean what and of course what news most of the United Nations special report or on torture is certain how corrupt and how in stress that the entire system in the u. K. Including the judiciary and the media has because when it comes to julian. You know before you call course earlier this year this was a confirmation that what neil smelters said seems to be true that julian. Just lots of what journalists fear a trial into while one always hopes that lead to justice will prevail while time out that when a countrys dirty secrets are risk of being exposed justice that is a word thats up for interpretation so as to tailor r. T. London. Hong kong story in the new year with more violent protests with the rally organizers putting the turnout at more than a 1000000 there were around 400. 00 of rests with police blaming radical protestors for the unrest. The. Think was. Hong kong police say mosques rioters recklessly vandalized public facilities in several areas there with arches may have to end the rally early after the clashes erupted washington a support of the protests from the outset but Hong Kong Based political scientist joseph chung things its more to do with building a wider political leverage against beijing. Did United States probably will support hong kong but dont the trauma millis tracing both likely the hong kong issue and the earliest human rights issues in china in sparkling tubes to exert pressure on china people would like to see a novel a season process a reconciliation process but apparently. Hong kong or them and have maintained their hunt mounds in and they have used to make any concessions to the protestants and to do prodemocracy in walls. Islands military chief has been killed in a Helicopter Crash near the capital taipei the Defense Ministry says 7 others also died but that the remaining 5 on board survived but not called helicopter was heading from the capital to a base on the islands east coast 13 minutes after takeoff it disappeared from radar and came down in a mountainous area its not yet known why the aircraft got into difficulty but an air force general told reporters that the helicopters condition was not ideal. Now with 2900. 00 done and dusted lets take a look back at more of the events that defined the year. Well socially politically beyond 29 caused a fair bit about people to our lives worldwide but for some the march of modernity as we head into the twentys is leaving more than a few people fearing for their much loved territory lets take a look at one tradition seem to be under threat now in france there is anger over a proposal to adopt dry january a month of abstaining from alcohol after the excesses of the holidays french wine is as much a part of the dinner table as the food itself so it did not go down well so to the ski has some ideas on how to freshen up from the new year hung over without having to put a cork in your culture. When you raise a gloss of wine or beer in florence its customary to say so and say which means health but if you waking up with a sore head off the celebrations on new years eve you may be wondering if all those songs done you any good ofter all and instead of trying a hair of the dog you might think that its time to join the millions of others across the world in having a little bit of a breather from alcohol thats right its time for to roy january a month of alcoholic abstinence its been so popular in the anger from world that there were even plans to introduce it here in france but to the french who are famous for their love of a little plonk even you know what troy january is trying. No its not possible it doesnt exist in france dried january i have not heard of it i have heard of many other traditions like move imber is that its Something Like that but with wine i dont think its possible no no not at all no with free no no i dont understand it this really exists so pretty much a resoundingly nor perhaps all the more reason to kick start the idea given that alcohol kills tens of thousands of people in france every year thats exactly what frances Health Agency solti public falls wanted to do but after explaining to brazilians what dry january is what they think about it. A month without drinking whole its difficult for the french. I could try it but id rather not it would not be too pleasant without wine. The french are going to die. What would be the reaction i mean what. Its like not eating because theyre not used to it who drinks more than me i dont know hard to respond it seems for once president might call really has his finger on the pulse on what the french are thinking for hes said to have fiercely opposed to promoting a moratorium on alcohol in january or perhaps its any toy of the year and given the choice will parisians be raising a normal colics all day for dry january well if they slaughter anything to go by probably not to dilute the very same tea maybe makes to reserve bit of alcohol just a bit unlike those women who drink discreetly in the kitchen. I prefer wine frankly ole miss was a nice small meal and even when you have it i prefer why you know. What wine is it if its a very good wine then wine is. Well that settles it to draw it january is definitely not a french thing and all not know it from us here in paris bone is salty. One of our reflections on the year just gone up ahead to on the big screen and small some of the movies and shows that got us all talking terrified or just downright fear eous still coming up after the break. What holds if you should. Put themselves on the line they get accepted or rejected. So if you want to be present. For something i want to. Watch it right. Its like the before you the more people get. Interested always at the waters edge. So what weve got to do is identify the threats that we have its crazy for him to you shouldnt let it be an arms race to move his arms off and spearing Dramatic Development only personally im going to resist i dont see how that strategy will be successful very critical time to sit down and talk. Welcome back continuing with our recap of 2019 now lets swing back to some of the coach will highlights of the past year i wasnt all protest demos and trade was we managed to escape into some decade defining t. V. Series and movies as well it might think a bike to some long running blockbuster favorites while others left audience is deeply divided as Daniel Hawkins houses. Its been a long hearing global news intrigue scandal uncertainty and cliffhangers weve seen it all at least we could all wind down with a good movie everyones favorite pastime bringing people together in the cinema or on the sofa well ok 29000 hasnt quite been like that but. Spring arrived bringing a monumental conclusion in the epic game of thrones saga it won millions of fans around the world i mean do you even know anyone who hasnt seen at least one episode it even became a feature in International Twitter diplomacy. It took 8 years to get literally everyone to jump on the west the rose by and wagon but just one series to get people fuming about the finale game of thrones season 8 has to be the most disappointing Season Finale of the decade Merry Christmas to everyone except the people who like the game of throwing series finale. Thinking about how cursed we are to live in the time when were both the game of thrones finale and the star wars finale sucked people even launched a petition to reshoot the final season nearly 2000000 signatures and still rising and if you thought breaks it was divisive dont get me started on that file episode and interesting. How do you. Mind if i was just really. After such division of viewers would desperate for some unity and in came should noble people flock to see the latest hit stand aside game of thrones as the draw more about the worlds Worst Nuclear Accident shot right up the t. V. Rankings. Is on fire. And every atom of uranium is like a bullet. With a mini series struck such a chord with viewers in both east and west it also struck some bones of contention why were there no ethnic minority actors how accurate was the science why so many cliched stereotypes so noble couldnt please everyone either and with every new episode came a new take on just how accurate the drama was or wasnt their characters are distorted and misrepresented as if they were villains they were nothing like that the plan work is a shown as though they are scared of everything this does not reflect reality in reality they were quite decisive very decisive not one of the operators fled after the explosion is a composed calm intelligent man who never denied his responsibility also became the knight screw darker and so that our screens walk in phoenixs joker delved into the murky depths of society and the human mind. When you bring me out. Introduce me as joker. I and as the height grew so did the panic yeah people actually got worried that film could provoke members of the socalled Community Self pitying missiles or mystic lonely online trolls into violence alarm bells even rang in the us military soldiers of a board about the risk of attacks during screenings it was all right on the night there was no Mass Violence critics loved phoenix but would divided over the film itself and whatever you thought of it some people certainly took inspiration from the character mixing fantasy with the reality and certainly sparking debate. Gnat gnat gnat gnat gnat gnat. Listen of joy cruise the radical change is needed this is not enough and this is what all those democratic leftists im not aware of this dissatisfaction the grows today is a serious one this is the cannot deal with it with gradual reforms more tolerance to health care now its a lot of themes of dystopia you know people dont really know where society is headed some people are loving the direction some are very scared and thats why movies like joker really speak to people another thing were seeing is is that people are so sick of politics that they also just kind of want to zone out and they want something thats just just Pure Entertainment and the number one movie this year was a bender is the end game and i think that also speaks to that as well is that theres not really a political message in that its just kind of eye candy and something to zone out to its mindless entertainment and thats important i think to. People who are just sick of hearing about politics all the time because it affects everything right. Well thats enough controversy for tonight christmas is off for all the season of goodwill to all it seems as though people just love to have a good old squabble over things and even the magical world of cinema just cant please everyone unless of course you happen to be baby goat or would he be holding. The baby. If you have your own 29 highlights wed love to hear them heavens i do get in touch by following us on social media way back the top of their. Israel media a reflection of reality. In a world transformed. What will make you feel safe. Isolation full community. Are you going the right way or are you being led. By. What is truly lost his faith. In the world corrupted you need to descend. To join us in the depths. Maybe in the shallows. But if she warn you posted by you can i do the dishes at the bazemore those jeans nudist beach and see me you. Know muffin when you guys e. Q. s. In the news i mean that is or that infants involved. A lot of you will see sawing during fuzzy fights about 2 kids each other both sides most schools. As in the adults to me as if. These. People are cabinet 5 film days doing. An english lady a thing people who simply knew. She would include in total. Mother who used to leak school was lonely guarded. And when your. Whole doesnt that it would look in the distance was more than a book a movie its a bug. In school stalls that its a bit silly. Theres. Just too little. Hey welcome to the qantas report the 1st episode out of 2020. Station are not going to have some really special guest right with us right now dr Michael Hudson dr mike lots of welcome to be here i was just curious i had his crazy image moment ago you know back in the seventys 1970 s. There was a movie called death wish with Charles Bronson remember that i remember that there was a sequel in the sequel to that right now sink in that we could do a remake you are the star you play the Charles Bronson role is called death wish and here vigilante banker economist that goes around new york blowing away bad debt where you think i love it ok ill set that up you think youre ready to do that 2020 i would be a very good secretary of the treasury thats exactly what i would do a fantastic im not sure thats what were talking my head into the ring actually we have elections coming up here in this year 2020 or of course part of our epic new series front running so if you were made treasury secretary in 2020 what would you do this year 2020 so i guess you would come into office 2021 in january 2021 would be the 1st thing you did to fix this economy or whatever to sit down with the attorney general and say were really going to apply the law and of course if you applied the law a lot of bankers would find themselves in jail yeah apply the law debt westray to the Charles Bronson of economists right i began to underline the quantitative easing but the Interest Rates rise again and that would leave a lot of banks pretty they could we would have some wonderful public banks a city bank would be a public bank and chase and let interest and the. Guys and public banks wouldnt make lent loans for the stock market and speculation and for corporate takeovers wed make loans to actually spend into the economy and i would oversee a rebuilding of americas infrastructure questions im reading some Northern European economists i forget which in there its a fan letter sweden but theres a school of thought that believes in a natural rate for the interest which is roughly 4 to 5 percent do you believe that there is a natural rate of interest there was never been a natural rate of interest all rates of interest for the last 5000 years have been administered right any rate isnt administered is there a sweet spot for rates that they would hear you toward if a left alone and not interfered with by Central Banks if you believe in circular reasoning you believe in a natural rate of interest but its all circular reasoning and the idea that somehow without Government Intervention if the economy could work without a government government somehow the private sector would equalize everything but thats never happened in history right so this is all neoliberal Austrian School fantasy you know